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*Y.C.* Supporting Women's Choices
Localização
My idea is to train and support a critical mass of volunteer ‘companions’ to support disadvantaged pregnant women through their reproductive health decisions, focusing on women choosing to have an abortion or giving their child up for adoption. I have chosen this focus particularly because of the lack of emotional and informational support services for this group of people. Much like a birthing doula, these volunteers will provide physical and emotional support coupled with the skills to be a resource and companion to women as they navigate through the health and social services systems. The success of existing volunteer birth companion (doula) programs across North America and around the world is testament to the value of non-judgmental support throughout their birthing experience. Just as every woman deserves to be supported throughout their pregnancy, labour and postpartum period- they equally deserve to be supported through their alternative choices.
The focus of this program is to provide confidential emotional, physical and informational support to low-income and otherwise marginalized women planning to have a pre-term abortion in a hospital, private or public clinic in Canada or planning to give a child up for adoption.
Building on existing models of volunteer birthing doulas, context-specific services will be offered based on women’s needs. Women will be identified by referral through hospitals, clinics and local service organizations. A trained volunteer will visit with the woman, accompany her to appointments and provide emotional, physical and informational support to women throughout and after the process. While decision-support will be provided as requested, this program intends to support women through their chosen path and provide additional information where needed. The volunteer will also follow-up with the women to identify any follow-up support she may need, in which case the volunteer can link her with existing social services in the area. While the volunteers will not be responsible to provide medical and legal advice, they will receive foundation-level training so as to be efficient and helpful in supporting the program’s clients. Given the confidential nature of this service, special security and screening measures will be in place when recruiting and placing volunteers.
The routine collection of data from women and volunteers’ experiences will also be used to develop advocacy materials to raise awareness about the continuing inequities in health in a country as rich as Canada, as well as the continuing need for reproductive health services, particularly among Canada’s disadvantaged populations. Program statistics, client feedback and clinical, policy and legal updates will be shared with the program’s volunteers through quarterly meetings to review and improve the program.
The development and pilot stage of this program will be based in Canada, primarily because this is where I am able to build on existing networks and resources. However, working with a sister program in a developing country to develop a similar service model would be a tremendous opportunity for mutual learning, while also building a stronger global network of citizen-led social support. Opportunities for such collaboration will be explored as the Supporting Women’s Voices becomes increasingly established.
Sobre Você
Seção 1: Sobre Você
Nome
Anna
Sobrenome
Dion
Website
Organization
Country
Canadá, ON
Are you an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 who would like to apply for a nine month Young Champions Program mentored by an Ashoka Fellow?
Sim
Seção 2: Sobre a Sua Organização
Nome da Organização
Página da organização na internet
Telefone da organização
Endereço da organização
País da organização
As informações que você fornecer aqui serão usadas para preencher todas as partes do seu perfil deixadas em branco, como interesses, informação da organização e website. Nenhuma informação do contato será tornada público. Por favor, desmarque aqui se você não deseja que isso aconteça..
Sua ideia
Dê um nome ao seu projeto
*Y.C.* Supporting Women's Choices
Country your work focuses on
Canadá, XX
Describe Your Idea
My idea is to train and support a critical mass of volunteer ‘companions’ to support disadvantaged pregnant women through their reproductive health decisions, focusing on women choosing to have an abortion or giving their child up for adoption. I have chosen this focus particularly because of the lack of emotional and informational support services for this group of people. Much like a birthing doula, these volunteers will provide physical and emotional support coupled with the skills to be a resource and companion to women as they navigate through the health and social services systems. The success of existing volunteer birth companion (doula) programs across North America and around the world is testament to the value of non-judgmental support throughout their birthing experience. Just as every woman deserves to be supported throughout their pregnancy, labour and postpartum period- they equally deserve to be supported through their alternative choices.
The focus of this program is to provide confidential emotional, physical and informational support to low-income and otherwise marginalized women planning to have a pre-term abortion in a hospital, private or public clinic in Canada or planning to give a child up for adoption.
Building on existing models of volunteer birthing doulas, context-specific services will be offered based on women’s needs. Women will be identified by referral through hospitals, clinics and local service organizations. A trained volunteer will visit with the woman, accompany her to appointments and provide emotional, physical and informational support to women throughout and after the process. While decision-support will be provided as requested, this program intends to support women through their chosen path and provide additional information where needed. The volunteer will also follow-up with the women to identify any follow-up support she may need, in which case the volunteer can link her with existing social services in the area. While the volunteers will not be responsible to provide medical and legal advice, they will receive foundation-level training so as to be efficient and helpful in supporting the program’s clients. Given the confidential nature of this service, special security and screening measures will be in place when recruiting and placing volunteers.
The routine collection of data from women and volunteers’ experiences will also be used to develop advocacy materials to raise awareness about the continuing inequities in health in a country as rich as Canada, as well as the continuing need for reproductive health services, particularly among Canada’s disadvantaged populations. Program statistics, client feedback and clinical, policy and legal updates will be shared with the program’s volunteers through quarterly meetings to review and improve the program.
The development and pilot stage of this program will be based in Canada, primarily because this is where I am able to build on existing networks and resources. However, working with a sister program in a developing country to develop a similar service model would be a tremendous opportunity for mutual learning, while also building a stronger global network of citizen-led social support. Opportunities for such collaboration will be explored as the Supporting Women’s Voices becomes increasingly established.
Website URL
INOVAÇÃO
What makes your idea unique?
This idea is unique because it focuses on the often hidden experiences of pregnancy and recognizes them as life-events as important, though very different than, the birth of a child. The focus of the program places the woman in control of her choices and supporting her through these, providing a non-judgmental support during what may be one of the most challenging experiences of their lives. While several programs exist to support women cope after giving up a child, few services exist as an individualized support to them throughout the actual experience.
This idea is unique because it recognizes the isolation, emotional stress and risks that may result from deciding to give up a child. It recognizes that receiving support without judgement can create a safe space for discussion, questioning and decision-making. This program also recognizes that positive interpersonal relationships can contribute to coping strategies, independence and building hope for the future, while also building solidarity and a sense of understanding between and among women.
Similarly designed services are few and far between. A comparable program has been active in New York City since 2007, providing emotional support to women across a variety of pregnancy-related contexts. The program outlined in this application would certainly benefit from learning from existing programs, while also recognizing the importance and need to adapt it to locally-relevant needs and contexts.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impacto
Temas relacionados à inscrição
What impact have you had?
This project is still at an idea phase, and therefore difficult to describe the impact. However, the idea itself and my own experiences with a volunteer Birth Companion (Doula) Program provide a strong foundation of understanding the potential of this idea for impact. In addition to the existing literature outlining the benefits of doula care in birthing experiences, through my own involvement in the Birth Companion Program (providing free emotional support to disadvantaged women throughout their birth), I have had the privilege of working with several disadvantaged women throughout their pregnancy and seen the positive effect that a non-judgmental support can provide. By providing a similar type of service for disadvantaged women who are facing difficult personal decisions, there is an important role to play in supporting women in taking control of their decisions and advocating on their behalf to ensure that they receive adequate care and services.
Problem
This project aims to address the isolation and lack of continuity of care in the context of abortion and adoption services among disadvantaged women in Canada. The physical and emotional challenges associated with these experiences requires long-term recovery, and can affect existing parenting roles, relationships with family and friends, and may lead to anger, depression, a decrease in self-esteem and ability to carry-on with everyday activities. This can have many secondary longer-term impacts, such as loss of employment, inability to maintain previous roles (as family and social roles) and a sense of failure or loss of control.
By providing emotional support, trained volunteers serve as a resource and can connect their clients with existing social services in their community. This program will contribute to reducing isolation, reducing barriers to existing services in communities and placing clients in control of decision-making by listening and responding to their needs, acting as a link and advocate for her within the health system and by providing her the tools needed to navigate the various health and social service systems.
Actions
Given that this project is at the idea stage, there is currently no formal organizational home for this initative. However, the applicant has explored several community-based organizations and Planned Parenthood- Ottawa in particular has expressed interest in supporting the initiative. Further connections with other community and professional groups will continue to be sought out.
Results
The continued efforts of the applicant to reach out to additional organizations/communities will hopefully raise the interest and buy-in in the initiative, building a stronger foundation upon which to develop the program.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
Year 1 will be focused on learning from existing initiatives and identifying needs and barriers with respect to abortion and adoption services within 2-3 Canadian communities with existing volunteer Birth Companion programs (Ottawa likely being one of them). This year will also require constant outreach and consultation efforts with local clinics, hospitals and social services- building trust and buy-in in the program and the services it can offer.
Training materials will also be developed, building on existing services and programs and adapting to context-specific needs. It will be reviewed and validated through an Advisory Group, as well as offered to a small group of volunteers who will then begin modestly offering the program’s services.
Ideally, within the first year, this program would be developed as a pilot program within a regional/national institution. The program will also have to develop a business and sustainability plan, as well as a legal framework of roles and responsibilities of the program and its volunteers.
Year 2 will focus on the recruitment and training of a first cohort of volunteers, provided with in-depth training (improved with the lessons learnt from the previous year) and on-going mentoring from the Training Advisory Group. With this first cohort, the program will be able to broaden its reach and begin to meet its service objectives. During this year, a monitoring and learning system will also be developed to capture trends in populations needs, as well as successes, challenges and gaps in the programs operations.
Year 3 will focus on consolidating the program’s lessons, with the possibility of expanding the program within Canada and/or exploring sister initiatives in a developing country. This year will also focus on strengthening advocacy components within the program.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Given the historical (and very current) sensitivities around abortion in Canada, the program could be perceived as promoting abortion as a pregnancy outcome, whereas the program aims to facilitate women’s informed decision-making and support them through that decision. To mitigate this risk, it will be critical to maintain clear and consistent messaging and communication to avoid being pulled into the continuing pro-choice/pro-life debates.
This project also relies heavily on building support for the program across a diverse range of actors. The program would face several additional challenges if it were not able to find institutional support, particularly during its initial development. The applicant will continue to explore possibilities with local organizations in Ottawa in an effort to build support and interest in the initiative. A clear outreach and engagement strategy will also be essential.
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1.000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$100 ‐ 1000
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Sim
SUSTENTABILIDADE
Em que estágio está seu projeto?
Fase de concepção
Sua organização é
Selecione todas as opções válidas
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
If yes, provide organization name.
Several local organizations have expressed interest in the initiative, however, they are not officially connected to the project
How long has this organization been operating?
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Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with government?
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
N/A
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
N/A
A História
What was the defining moment that you led to this innovation?
In 2009, I began volunteering as a Birth Companion to low-income, often refugee pregnant women through a program at Mothercraft Ottawa http://www.mothercraft.com/prenatal_parent/BC.php). Through my experiences within this Program, I have been struck by the lack of access faced by low-income women despite a national commitment to universal access. I have been truly inspired by the women that I have had the honour of supporting through this program, and have become increasingly motivated to continue my efforts working directly with disadvantaged women, while also working to affect change within the broader system. This initiative is an extension of existing Birth Companion programs and came about through several discussions with friends and colleagues about how to improve choice and access around reproductive health issues.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
For me, the social innovator behind this idea lies in the many new connections made as strangers come together to share some of life’s most intimate, and often difficult, moments. The power of this idea is in its simplicity, in that people can support others simply by “being there”, by being compassionate, caring and by being a friend when noone else can. The social innovator is in all of us in how we create, nurture and build these relationships, whether within our families, between friends or between strangers.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Newsletter from Changemakers
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
 | AnnaDion said: Dear Faatemeh, Many thanks for your encouraging comments. I would certainly also be open to any suggestions you might have- always ... about this Competition Entry. - 662 dias atrás leia mais > |
| Faatemeh said: Hi Anna, Perfect! I really appreciate your concern over considering affective domain in women’s personality. Good Luck, Faatemeh about this Competition Entry. - 664 dias atrás leia mais > |
| AnnaDion updated this Competition Entry. - 675 dias atrás |
| AnnaDion updated this Competition Entry. - 694 dias atrás |
| AnnaDion enviou esta idéia. - 696 dias atrás |
